Evergreen International Seeks To Grow Its Roots

Evergreen International Aviation (Booth No. 4920) is looking to expand its roots. Evergreen began as a commercial helicopter service business in the 1960s but quickly grew into a diversified aviation company that included aircraft charter, salvage, and modification. The company also expanded into heavy-lift helicopters.

However, throughout its history, Evergreen has served the petroleum industry, perhaps most famously on construction of the Trans-Alaska pipeline during the 1970s. Now the company is looking to aggressively increase that part of its business in the coming years, according to company counsel Alfred Bowen, who spoke with AIN at Heli-Expo 2012 in Dallas.

Bowen pointed to the company’s recent acquisition of an AgustaWestland AW139 medium helicopter and its service in emerging oil-rich countries in Africa, particularly Angola, as evidence that Evergreen is making moves to expand its oil-and-gas portfolio.

Bowen said the company currently has 15 helicopters devoted to the oil-and-gas mission, wants to add this number. “It’s a big market and we are looking to grow with it,” he said.